Conferences for entrepreneurs can be difficult to find. You don’t want to attend a standard business event with irrelevant presentations. Since you’re likely paying for your own registration instead of expensing it to your non-existent training budget, you want to make sure you’re getting a good value out of any conference you attend. This list of five conferences for entrepreneurs features options customized for building your own business, making mentors in the start-up world and keeping your entrepreneurial flame burning.
South by Southwest
Head to Austin, TX, from March 10-19 for nine days of networking and entertainment at one of the biggest festivals in the entire country. Enter Startup Village to meet investors, startup staff and fellow entrepreneurs. Special events like the SXSW Accelerator and SXSW Release It give you a chance to pitch your products to a live audience and special judge panel for a chance at prizes and accolades. When you need to relax, catch a live music show, TV pilot or film festival and enjoy the year’s hottest new releases. Even President Obama couldn’t miss SXSW in 2016; who knows who you’ll meet in 2017.
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CEO Space
This conference for business innovators brings entrepreneurs and investors together, generating millions of dollars in funding every year. You’ll also get access to workshops on crowdfunding, branding and marketing as well as a unique mentorship program. Everything is designed to help you take your business to the next level. In 2017, CEO Space will host five week-long conferences; you can attend just one or make time for all of them. The dates are March 13-17, May 23-27, August 1-5, October 3-7 and December 19-23.
Social Media Marketing World
Social media is the new way to grow your business fast. This 2017 conference delivers dozens of keynote speakers, more than 100 workshops for developing action plans and tried-and-true expert tips for getting your social media strategy right the first time. Every session is recorded and available for download by conference attendees. Plus, the opening night networking event is a blow-out party on an aircraft carrier in the San Diego Bay, and you can add a few days to your trip to explore the beautiful coastal area. Social Media Marketing World will draw over 4,000 attendees from March 22-24 at the downtown San Diego Conference Center.
World Domination Summit 2017
If you’re developing a socially oriented business, you can’t miss World Domination Summit, or WDS as alumni refer to it. This crazy adventure in Portland, Oregon, brings together hundreds of entrepreneurs and change agents focused on making the world a better place. You’ll see inspiring talks from business owners, scientists and financial experts curated to inspire you. The 2017 conference will take place July 11-17, and tickets go on sale soon.
Inc 5000
Hear from NYT best-selling author Tony Robbins, astronaut Winston Scott and CEOs from dozens of companies at this premier business conference. A golf tournament gives you a natural chance to network while a mentor fair lets you connect with senior executives. Inc 5000 ends with a black-tie gala and award ceremony so you can head home on a high note. Held from October 18-20 in San Antonio, TX, this conference for entrepreneurs is sure to deliver a great time.
If you’re not home taking care of business, there’s no one else to do it for you. That’s why this list only included entrepreneur-focused conferences that are worth the time out of the office. Hopefully you’ll be able to attend one of them in 2017.
